Beatrice.

She laughed , and every heart was glad , As if the taxes Avere abolished ; She froAvned , and every look Avas sad , As if the opera were demolished . " I noticed at this time that Beatrice seemed to have fits of abstraction and hours of sadness , unusual to that gay , and confiding , and ahvays genial damsel ; and Twamley expressed his decided inion to me that " there was something " I did not

underop up . stand then the cause of her apparent dejection . I understood it afterwards , and 1 appreciate it HOAV . Ail of a sudden a new impetus was given to society at Cayley , viz ., the advent of young Morley from Aldershot , and a good-looking Bro . Sub ., the Hon . Henry de Lacy , a younger member of a very old family , gay , good-looking , a true soldier , and a pleasant companion . The young ladies soon found out that two young officers from Aldershotwho

, danced Avell , sang fairly , Avere first-rate hands at croquet , flirtation , badminton , picnics , and champagne cup , to say nothing of " shandy gaff , " Avere very eligible partners , and most agreeable " mates " ( oh , ye young ladies , for shame ' . ); and if mammas sometimes froAvned , and aunts looked impressive , well , as they suited the young ladies' " book , " to use another dreadful expression , the young ladies suited them to a T . In a moment Cayley society became vitalized into a most gregarious and agreeable

assembly , and more flirtations Avere carried on than had ever been knoAA * n in Cayley before . For the young members of the civilian body , and professional pursuits generally , thought they ought not to be " boAvled over , " as TAvamley said , by the British army , and so they assayed to make themselves more agreeable than ever to those fair charmers oi earthly existence who Avould one day be the drives and mothers of Cayleyites . It is

mentioned in Canada as a historical fact that after the disappearance of the " red men , " and the " green men , " and the "blue men , " the Canadian ladies , ignoring " muffins " manfully for the future , condescended to hold " pourparlers" Avith certain "blackcoated" gentry , and smiled graciously on a " civilian element . "

And so it was at Cayley : though the heart of the ladies and their sentiment went Avith the heroes from Aldershot ; they Avere too wise in their generation entirel y to throw OA ' er their civilian acquaintance ; and thus it came to pass that either by juxtaposition , or imitation , or desperation , ( heaven saA ^ e the mark ) , matters at Cayley took a very philanthropic and genial turn . Beatrice was in her glory , and in radiant happiness . She and Mr . Morley Avere always togetherand the Avorld at last begun to talk . And thenas they say people always run

, , in couples , Mr . de Lacy and that pretty girl Kate MereAvether and young Carruthers and Fraulein Lisette became inseparables , and go where you would , meet as you mig ht , there seemed to be what Twamley called a tendency to " turtle dove it , " Avhich Avas most trying to sensitive people , especially to any one a little smitten , or " smitten hopelessly , " himself . That was a gay time at Cayley , and often fondly remembered and talked of afterwardsAvhen hearts Avere light and cares Avere feAVand all sought to enjoy calmly

, , and peaceably the happiness of congenial intercourse , and the pleasant association of friendship , yes , and of flirtation . Say Avhat people will , there are some bri ght moments in our lives which we often would give Avorlds to bring back , but cannot , and AA'hich Ave neA'er forget , amid engrossing troubles or thronging disappointments .

" You may breaV , you may shatter the vase if you will , But the scent of the roses will cling to it still . " Ah , my kind friends who read these lines even to-day , I venture to say you have moments when yoii look back to a sunny period of life tenderly and even wistfully . Life is not now what once it \ A as to you , your " Poll" is not always "kind and fair , " your " Rupert" is not ahvays "tender and true , " and even amid health and splendour , and greatness and triumph , you recall with a sigh and tear those bright illusions Avhich have left you , those day-dreams which have vanished , those voices Avhich are now still , those